Push-button-switch construction



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,491 c. MILLER v PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 11 1925 lliiml Z '22 ZZ INVENTOR.

by. I VIZ/6M- I T'A'TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1929..

v UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN MILLER, 01

PATENT OFFICE.

PUSH-BUTTON-SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 11, 1925. Serial No. 74,674.

This invention relates to the construction of push button switches and more particularly to push button switches of the type adapted to be inserted into a recess so as to be substantially flush with the wall member with which they are associated.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a push button switch of the abovementioned nature which will be of compact and ru ged construction, of thoroughly dependable action when in use, and capable of long-continued service. Another object is to provide a push button switch of simple and practical construction, and capable of not 115 only rapid assembly but also of inexpensive manufacture. Another object of this invention is to provide a construction of the abovementioned character in which defective contact-making action is effectively avoided and at which will be well adapted to meet the varied conditions of hard practical use. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part po nted out hereinafter. a

The invention accordingly consists 1n the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of partsas will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

' In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the push button switch in assembled relation, the parts being shown in their normal positlon and the section being taken along the line 1--1 of Fig. 2;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the assembled push button switch;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the relation of certain parts of the device before the assembly of the push button proper is completed;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 55 of Fig. 1, and

Figure ,6 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to the sectional view shown in Fig. 1, but showing certain of the parts of the device in actuated position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 3, there is shown at 10 a sheet metal shell preferably of a generally cylindrical shape and provided at its upper end W1th a laterally extending flange 11 adapted to limit the insertion of the shell 10 into a suitable aperture, preferably also circular, made in the wall meml er or support with which the device is to be associated. The sheet metal shell 10 may be conveniently formed as by drawing and stamping and the lower end portion thereof is somewhat irregularly cut out or "stamped as at 12 (see- Fig. 6); out of this portion of the lower end of the shell 10 which is thus cut away there is formed a pair of downwardly bent ears 13 and 14 (see also Figs. 2 and 3). These downwardly bent ears 13 and 14 are adapted to hold against the lower and otherwise open end portion of the shell 10 a sheet metal ring-like member 15 (see also Fig. 5), a relatively thin sheet of insulating material 16 and a relatively heavier sheet of insulating material 17, these latter three parts being superimposed one upon the other and being clampedagainst the lower end of the shell 10 by the bent over ears 13 and 14, as will be clear from Figure 3.

The ring-like member 15 has integrally formed therewith a plurality of laterally extending members 18, conveniently four in number, and these members 18 are bent upwardly, as will be clear from Figures 1 and '3, for example. The members 18 being made of a suitable relatively yieldable or springlike sheet metal act to frictionally but securely hold the shell 10 in the opening in the wall member into which it is inserted when in use.

The insulating member 17, conveniently made of fiber, for example, is provided with a substantially centrally positioned aperture 19, preferably ofa generally rectangular shape (see Fig. 5) and at either side of this aperture 19 there are supported two terminal members generally indicated at 20 and 21. These terminal members are of substantially identical construction, and it will be noted that each is provided with a substantially plate-like portion 20" and 21v adapted to rest against the under side of the insulating member 17 each of these plate-like members 20' and 21' is in turn provided with an upwardly bent lug 20 and 21 respectively, adapted to be received in an appropriate a erture within the insulating member 17 an adapted furthermore to prevent a relative rotatlon of each terminal member with respect to the supporting insulating member 17 suitablerivets 22, conveniently taking the form ofe'yelets, acting to secure the terminal members rigidly and securely to the insulating member 17.

The plate-like members 20 and21 of the terminal members 20 and 21 are furthermore provided with the downwardly bent lugs 20 and 21 respectively, these lugs being adapted to have threaded thereinto the connecting screws 20 and 21 thus to permit the connection of theelectrical conductors of the circuit to be controlled. As is more clearly shown in Figure 1, the terminal member 20 the circuit, and at this point it may particularly be noted that as clearly seen in Figure 1, these contact members 20 and 21 present an upper eifective contact surface which slopes in a downward direction.

The relatively thinner insulating member 16, interposed between the ring-like member and the insulating member 17, serves to insulate such parts as the rivets or eyelets 22 from the interior of the push button switch construction, and this insulating member 16 is-furthermore provided with a substantially centrally positioned. aperture 23 (see also Figs. 5 and 6). This aperture 23 is of a generally rectangular shape but in at least one dimension thereof, it is smaller than the aperture 19 in the insulating member 17 The superimposed insulating members 16 1 and 17, thus in effect forming the bottom for the shell 10, will be seen to provide a substantially centrally positioned aperture, adjacent the lower portion of which are the contact members 20 and 21 the relatively smaller dimension of the aperture 23 in the member 16, however, permits the latter to overlap the aperture 19 in the member 17 as is clearly shoWn in Figure 1. The purpose of the overhanging ledges thus formed by the member 16 will be made clear hereinafter.

The upper end of the shell 10 is closed by a push button generally indicated at' 24. This push button 24 is preferably of composite construction and preferably comprises a c lindrical shell-like sheet metal member 25, t e bottom of which is apertured as at 26.

. The shell member 25 of the button 24 is preferably of such a diameter that it is relatively Y snugly received within the upper end of the shel 10 and so that it may be slidably guided by the latter. Within the shell 25 of the in cross-section substantially rectangular and furthermore so dimensioned as to be snugly but slldaglfiareceived within the aperture 23 of the in ting member 16. Conveniently this member 31 may be made up of a single strip of sheet metal shaped to provide the flange 29, a side wall'portion 32, an oppositely disposed side wall portion 33 and the flange 30. The portions 32 and 33 pass downwardl through an appropriate aperture in the insulating disk 28, and the flanges 29 and 30 being securely clamped between 1 the bottom flange 25 of the shell 25 and the pearl or insulating member 27, the guiding member 31 is thus rigidly connected to and supported from the push button 24 proper.

- At its lower portion, the side wall member 32 is cut away as'at 34 and in substantially like manner the side wall portion 33 is cut away at its lower end as at 35. Within the hollow guiding member 31 is a contact bridging member 36 made of a suitably resilient or yieldable sheet metal and provided at its upper end with the laterally extending flanges 37 and 38 (see Fig. 4) adapted to be clamped between the insulating disk 28 and the pearl or insulating member 27 much in the same manner as are the flanges 29 and 30 of the guiding member 31, as hereinabove described.

The bridging member 36 is furthermore I provided with two oppositely disposed and downwardly extending arms 39 and 40, ex tended downwardly to a sufiicient extent within the hollow guiding member 31 so as to project through the apertures 34 and 35 in the side wallmembers 32 and 33 of the central guiding member 31. At their lower ends the arms 39 and 40 are bent outwardly and upwardly to form what may be termed the hook-shaped end members 41 and 42, these members being thus yieldably urged laterally and through the apertures 34 and 35 in the guiding member 31.

Interposed between the bottom-forming portions of the shell 10 and'the push button 24 is a spiral spring 43 acting to urge the push button 24 and the parts connected to it in an upward direction.

' er end of this guiding member 31.

The hook-shaped end members 41 and 42 of the spring arms 39 and 40 are, as hereinabove noted, bent in a general upward direction as well as outwardly; when, therefore, it is desired to complete the assembly of the push button switch, the spiral s ring 43 may be first inserted within the shel 10 and thereupon the push button 24 with its associated parts inserted in such a manner that the substantially hollow guiding member 31 is substantially alined with the aperture 2.3 in the insulating member 16. A subsequentmovement of the push button 24 with its associated parts in a downward direction as viewed in Figure 1 causes thehook-shaped end members 41 and 42 to be uided by the extreme lower end portion of the guiding member 31 into contact with the upper side edges of the insulating member 16. Continued downward movement, however, causes the members 39 and 40 to be yieldably moved one toward the other so that the hook-shaped members 41 and 42 pass freely through the "aperture in the insulating member 16. This passage having been completed, the spring arms 39 and 40 tend to return to their normal position and thus carry the hook-shaped ends 41 and 42 outwardly and laterally and into a position within the larger aperture 19 of the insulating member 17 but underneath the ledge formed by the insulating member 16. The parts are thus securely interlocked or held together, the hook-shaped ends 41 and 42 acting to limit the return or upward movement of the push button 24 in response to the action of the spring 43.

The subsequent actuation of the device in CODtIOlliIlg or" closing a circuit is substantially as follows :In Figure 1 the parts are shown in their usual or normal position in which the circuit of which the terminal members 20 and 21 form a part is open. A subsequent depression of the push button 24, in order to close the circuit, carries the guiding member 31 in a downward direction and with it the hook-shaped end members 41 and 42, which form substantially a lateral but yieldable closure for the apertures 34 and 35 in the low- Such a downward movement of these parts brings the hook-shaped members 41 and 42 into engagement with the downwardly sloping lugs orcontact members 20 and 21 of the terminal members 20 and 21, thus electrically bridging these contact members. But in their engagement with the contact members 20 and 21 the hoo -shaped end members 41 and 42 are caused, y reason not only of their own shape but also of the downward inclination of the contact lugs 20 and 21, to partake of a relative rubbing movement withTespect thereto, the lowermost position of the movable parts, as well as the limit of this rubbing movement 'being indicated in Figure 7. The arms 39 and 40 readily yield one toward the other as will be seen in this figure, thus to per- I push button 24, another action takes place whichj nsures the reliable and intended actuation of the parts. As the button 24 is manually depressed, it is in and of itself guided by the side walls of the shell 10 but at the same time the guiding member 31 passes downwardly through the closely fitting aperture 23 to theinsulating member 16. The axis of the push lfutton 24 is-thus dependably maintained in substantial coincidence with the axis of the shell 10, as this relative movement takes place, inasmuch as any tendency to cause a tilting of the push button 24 is at once counteracted by the in'terfitting and guiding action of the guiding member 31 'with respect to the aperture 23 in the insulating member 16. Even though, therefore, the pressure applied manuall to the push button 24 may be transmitted t ereto eccentrically, tilting of the button is efi'ectivelyprevented and the intended operation'of the connecting mechanism is thus insured.

Upon release of the button 24, the spring 43 effects the return or upward movement of the button 24,together with its associated parts, but at the same time the hook-shaped end members 41 and 42 return to their normal lateral position under the yielding action of the arms 39 and 40 (see- Fig. 1) and thus engage the upper ledge overhanging the aperture 19 thus they not only prevent unintended -disassembly of the device but also limit to the, intended degree the upper or retrograde movement of the button 24.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a push button switch construction in which the several objectshereinabove set forth, as well as many practical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the device is of a thoroughly practical nature, capable of dependable action, and well adapted to realize many advantages in manufacture, as well as to withstand effectively the conditions of hard practical use..

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shownin the accompanying drawing, is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having its upper end closed by a downwardly movable push button, a spring for urging said button in an upward direction, a bottom member for said shell having a substantially centrally-positioned opening, a pairof contact members at the under side of said bottom member and adjacent the opening therein and shaped to present downwardly inclined contact surfaces, a hollow guiding member secured to said button. extending downwardly there-,

from. and slidably fitting said opening in said bottom member, said guiding member having a pair of oppositely disposed apertures at its lower end, and a pair of members, yieldably urged outwardly through the apertures in said guiding member, adapted on depression of said button to be moved into slidable engagement with the inclined contact surfaces of said contact members and upon upward movement of said button under the action of said spring to engage said bottom member.

2. In a device of the character described. in combination, a shell having its upper end closed by a downwardly movable push button, a springfor urging said button in an upward direction, insulating means supported at the lower end of said shell and shaped to provide an opening having a ledge adjacent its upper end, a pair of members supported in depending relation from said push button and adapted to be yleldably urged laterally away from one another, each.

of said members having at its lower end a laterally and upwardly bent hook-shaped portion whereby said members may be yieldably passed through said openlng'in said insulating means and adapted under the action of said spring to engage the ledge at the upper end of said opening, and a pair of contact terminals associated with said insulating means and positioned in the path of downward movement of said hook-shaped portions of said yieldable members upon depression of said push button.

3. In a device of the character described in combination, a shell having its upper end closed by adownwardly movable "push button, a spring for urging said button in an upward direction, insulating means sup-- ported at the lower end of said shell and shaped to provide an opening having a ledge adjacent its upper end, a pair of members supported in depending relation from said push button and adapted to be yieldably urged laterally away from one another, each of-said members having at its lower end a laterally and upwardly bent hook-shaped.

portion whereby said members may be yieldably passed through said opening in said insulating means and adapted under the action of said spring to engage the ledge at the upper end of said opening, and a pair of terminal members supported from saidinsulating means and shaped to provide a pair of downwardly inclined contact surfaces for yield able and slidable contacting engagement with said hook-shaped ortions of said yieldable members, upon epression of said push button.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell having its upper end closed by a downwardly movable push button, a spring or urging said button in an upward direction} means forming a bottom for said shell and having a substantially centrally positioned opening therein, means for preventing tilting of said button upon depression thereof, said means including a rigid member depending from said button and slidably fitting said opening in said bottomforming means, a pair of members movable with said button and extending downwardly through said opening and yieldably urged laterally, and a pair of contact members positioned in the path of downward movement of said downwardly extending members for circuit-controlling ooaction therewith.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell having its upper end closed by a downwardly movable push button, a spring for urging said button in an.

upward direction, means forming a bottom for said shell and having a substantially centrally positioned openin therein, means for preventing tilting of said button upon depression thereof, said means including a rigid member depending from said button and slidably fitting said opening in said bottomformi'ng means, a pair of members laterally projecting from the lower end portion of said rigid member and yieldably urged laterally therefrom, said laterally projecting members being shaped to cause inward movement of one toward the other as said rigid member is passed through the opening in said bot tom-forming means for assembly and. to en-- a spring for urging said button in an upward direction,means forming a bottom for said shell and having a substantially centrally positioned opening therein, means for .pre-

venting tilting of said button upon depres-' sion thereof, said means including a rigid. member dependingfrom said button and slidably fitting said opening in said bottom-form ing means, a pair of members laterally pro jecting from the lower end portion ofsaid rigid member and yieldably urged laterally. therefrom, said laterally projecting members bers adapted to present downwardly inclined contact surfaces positioned in the path of downward movement of said laterally projecting members for circuit-controlling coaction therewith.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell of substantially circular section adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having a spring-retracted push button slidable therein at its upper end, means including a sheet metal member shaped to provide two opposed side wall portions held in spaced relation and forming a rigid hollow downward extension for said button, means coacting with said extension means for preventing lateral displacement thereof upon said button bein manually displaced, a pair of terminal mem ers adapted to have secured thereto a pair of electrical conductors, and electrically conductive means controlled by said push button and substantially housed within said hollow extension means for yieldably engaging said terminal members.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell of substantially circular section adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having a spring-retracted push button slidable therein at its upper end, means forming a rigid hollow downward extension for said button, means coacting with said extension means for preventing lateral displacement thereof upon said button being manually displaced, a pair of terminal members adapted to have secured thereto a pair of electrical conductors, and a pairof yieldable members movable with said push button and extending lengthwise of said hollow extension means and substantially within the lateral compass of the latter for making engagement with said terminal members upon depression of said push button.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell of substantially circular section adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having a spring-retracted push button slidable therein at its upper end, means forming a rigid downward extension for said button, means coacting with said extension means for preventing lateral displacement thereof upon said button being manually displaced, a pair of terminal members adapted to have secured thereto a pair of electrical conductors, and means adapted to be actuated by said push button for electrically bridging said terminal members, said means being adapted to limit the retrograde movement of said push button relative to said shell.

10. In a device of the character described in combination, a shell adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having an apertured bottom, a spring-retracted push button substantially closing the upper end of said shell and slidably guided therein, said button having rigid downward extending means for slidable engagement with said apertured bottom, a contact member positioned on the under side of said bottom, and a yieldable member adapted, when actuated by said push button, to pass through said apertured bottom and to make slidable circuit-making cont-act with said contact member, said downward extending means being adapted to coact with said bottom to prevent tilting of said button in a direction in which said yieldable member moves when yielding, whereby circuit-makin contact between said yieldable member an said contact member is ensured.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell adapted to be inserted into a recess in a Wall and having apertured bottom-forming means, a spring-retracted push button substantially closing the upper end of said shell and slidably guided therein, said button having rigid downward extending means for slidable engagement with said apertured bottom-forming means, and switching mechanism adapted to be operated by said push button including means connected to said push button and shaped'to be passed freely through said apertured bottom-form: ing means upon assembly of said button with respect to said shell but to. limit the extent of the return movement of said spring-retracted button to prevent disassembly.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having apertured bottom-formin means, a spring-retracted ing a member having a plurality of outwardlyl directed and relatively yieldable devices s aped to be yieldably passed through said apertured bottom-forming means upon assembly but only in the direction in which said button is depressed.

'13. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shell adapted to be inserted into a recess in a wall and having apertured bottom-forming means, a spring-retracted push button substantially closing the upper end of said shell and slidably guided therein, said button having rigid downward extending means for slidable engagement with said apertured bottom-forming means, and a member secured to said push button and shaped to pass freely through said aperfor holding the latter in assembled relation for holdin I said casing, means to prevent tilting of said button with respect to said casing means, and means associated with said push button with respect to said casing means, said holding means and said casing means being shaped to permit inter-engagement of one with respect to the other upon inward movement 01 assembly of said button with respect to said casing means and to limit movement of said button under the action of said sprin 'in reverse direction to prevent CllS- assem ly.

15. In a device of the character described, in combination, means forming a casing having slidabl supported therein at its upper end a push. utton and having apertured bottom-forming means, at its lower end, a spring for urging said push button upwardly, a pair or terminal members adapted to have connected thereto circuit conductors, and

two sheet metal members arranged in depending relation with respect to saidpush button, one of which members is relatively rigid and is adapted to .pass through said apertured bottom-forming means to prevent tilting of said push button and the other of said sheet metal members being adapted, upon depres- .minal members.

16. In a device of the character described,

in combination, means forming a casing having slidably supported thereinat its upper end a pus button and having apertured bottom-forming means at its lower end, a spring for urgmg said push button. upward- 1y, a pair of terminal members adapted to have connected thereto circuit conductors, and two sheet metal members arranged in depending relation with respect to said push button, one of said sheet metal members being substantially hollow and shaped for slidable engagement with said apertured bottom-forming means and the other of said sheet metal members being yielding and housed within said hollow member and adapted upon depression of said button to engage said terminal members.

17. In a device of the character described, in combination, a sheet metal shell having its upper end substantially closed by a springretracted push button and having at its lower end a plurality of fastening ears formed integrally therewith, an insulating member carrying contact members adapted to have secured thereto circuit conductors, a member CHRISTIAN MILLER.

DISCLAIMER Y. PUsH-BUT'roN-SwrroH CONSTRUC- TION. Patent dated January 15, 1929.' Disclaimer filed December 15, 1937, by the patentee; the asslgnee, Edwards and Company, Inc., assenting and concurring.

Hereby enters this disclaimer toclaim 17 of said Letters Patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette January 18, 1.938.] 

